Equity in the News Coronavirus

Following the news that the regional theaters Barrington Stage Company and Berkshire Theatre Group will resume performances in the coming months, Actors' Equity has shared a public list of resources, including COVID-19 testing guidelines as well as a pre-production sheet, geared toward producers readying to resume live theater.

Actors’ Equity Association, the national labor union representing professional stage actors and stage managers, has released a public list of resources geared towards producers looking to resume live theatre.

Actors’ Equity has released guidelines for COVID-19 testing as theaters plan reopening strategies.

The union has released guidelines, safety sheets, and more for organizations looking to resume performances.

The United States reported 58,600 new confirmed coronavirus cases Wednesday as parts of the country continue to face a spike in infections, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University. Florida has become an epicenter of the pandemic, with more than 232,000 reported cases and over 4,000 deaths due to the virus.

As Walt Disney World prepares to officially reopen Saturday despite the surging coronavirus outbreak in Florida, labor union Actors’ Equity announced Thursday that it has filed a grievance against Disney for “retaliating” against its members over their demand for regular Covid-19 testing for employees.

The actors’ union representing 750 Walt Disney World performers has filed a grievance against the Orlando, Florida-based theme park alleging retaliation against its members over the union’s demand that they be tested for the coronavirus.

Actors’ Equity Association says Walt Disney World has “locked out” its union members as a way of retaliating against Equity’s demand for coronavirus testing as a condition for returning to work, while Disney says park safety protocols have been accepted by other unions.

The conglomerate responded that it was "exercising our right" to reopen without the union performers.

The organization represents approximately 750 performers of the park’s 43,000 cast members.